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Klinsmann calls on Cameron

BACK FOR MORE: The Houston Dynamo's Geoff Cameron has been called into US Men's National Team camp and is on the 21-man roster that will take on Italy in Genoa Feb. 29.
BACK FOR MORE: The Houston Dynamo's Geoff Cameron has been called into US Men's National Team camp and is on the 21-man roster that will take on Italy in Genoa Feb. 29.


The United States Men's National Team announced this morning that Houston Dynamo's Geoff Cameron has been called into camp ahead of the Feb. 29 friendly against Italy.

This was widely expected after center back Oguchi Onyewu tore up his knee last week while playing for Sporting Lisbon. However, there are those of us who think Cameron merited a call-up even if Onyewu had been healthy. It's not like the US is lousy with centerbacks at the present moment what with Omar Gonzalez being out for the year already ripping apart his knee after his 15-minutes of practice in Germany. (And I am not making light of that. Hard not to feel bad for that guy.)

Here's the full roster:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Steve Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson, Michael Parkhurst, Jonathan Spector

Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Jose Torres, Danny Williams

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Edson Buddle, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan

Hard not to see Cameron getting some time against Italy with that roster. Bocanegra is still the captain, but it's not like he's tearing it up with Rangers right now. Interesting omission leaving off Sasha Kljestan. I am not a big fan of Sasha, but he is doing quite well at Anderlecht.

This is very much a full-strength US side, one of the first in Klinsmann's short reign, and this says worlds about where Cameron rates. What do you think?

Here's Dynamo's release:

Dynamo center back Geoff Cameron called up to U.S. men's national team

21-man roster will travel to Genoa for Feb. 29 friendly vs. Italy

HOUSTON, TX (Thursday, February 23, 2012) - Houston Dynamo center back Geoff Cameron has been called up to the United States men's national team in preparation for its upcoming friendly against Italy on Feb. 29 in Genoa. The match will kick off at 1:45 p.m. CT and can be seen on ESPN2, ESPN3, and Galavisión.

This is Cameron's second call-up under head coach Jürgen Klinsmann and his fifth call-up overall. Cameron has three caps for the national team and was in the starting lineup for last month's friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.

Cameron, 26, started 33 regular season matches last season for Houston and tallied five goals and five assists en route to his second MLS All-Star appearance. The Massachusetts-native played every minute of all four playoff games as the Dynamo reached the MLS Cup final and posted a 334-minute shutout streak. Cameron began the year as a central midfielder before moving to the center back position for the final two months of the season.

Following the match, Cameron will rejoin the Dynamo in Orlando for the conclusion of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.